Box Score

TEANECK, N.J. – Led by freshman Oliver Tavares' career-best five-RBI effort, the Fairleigh Dickinson baseball team topped Saint Peter's 10-6 at Naimoli Family Baseball Complex on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Knights (8-16) registered a season-high 15 hits in the victory as the middle of the order combined to go 9-for-14 on the afternoon with seven RBIs.
 
Tavares was at the forefront of the effort with a 4-for-5 performance and the five runs batted in. Three-hitter Mike Veit went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI, while clean-up man Evan McDonald was 2-for-5 with two runs and a solo home run.
 
The Knights launched a season-best three home runs in the victory.
 
In the loss, the Peacocks (0-24) hit a pair of home runs and were led offensively by second baseman Nick Ciocco, who went 3-for-5 with two runs and an RBI. Ciocco and teammate Anthony Ramos each hit a long ball in the game.
 
The Knights struck for a pair in their first turn at bat when Tavares laced a two-run triple to centerfield. Tavares' ball tailed past the charging center fielder and rolled all the way to the fence as McDonald and Veit came around to score. Veit and McDonald each reached with a single earlier in the inning.
 
Saint Peter's broke into the scoring column in the top of the third with Ciocco doubling down the left field line to chase home Hunter Mason.
 
Tavares would tie the game up in the bottom of the inning with a single through the left side of the infield, which knocked in Veit. Veit had reached with a single and then advanced into scoring position by stealing second base.
 
Ramos' solo blast put the Peacocks on top again briefly before Fairleigh Dickinson junior infielder Owen VonEsslinger answered with a solo blast of his own to tie the game at 4-4 through four frames.
 
In the home fifth, sophomore catcher Joe O'Rourke's first career home run – a solo shot -- put the Knights in front for good. Then, a run-scoring groundout by Jason Fatzinger and McDonald's solo homer extended the lead to 7-4 in the sixth.
 
The Knights would break the game open with three more runs in the eighth. The first run crossed after a sacrifice fly by Veit and two more came home when Tavares delivered a two-out single to center field.
 
Quintero concluded the scoring with a two-run homer off of reliever Dillon Forsythe in the ninth before James Donlon came on for FDU and recorded the final out with one pitch.
 
Freshman right-hander Chris Quijano pitched four innings in relief of classmate Aaron Cohn to net his first career victory. Quijano's final line included six punch-outs to go along with four hits and one earned run.
 
Cohn went the first three, allowing three earned on six hits, while striking out three.
 
The Knights return to action this weekend with a four-game series against Northeast Conference foe Bryant. The series begins on Friday, April 13 at 3:00 p.m.